Careers consultant : Job description

A careers consultant is involved in all aspects of career management and development, using guidance, counselling, coaching and advisory techniques to assist clients to clarify and achieve career goals and issues. These can range from job searching, career change, self-employment, redundancy and retirement.

Many careers consultants work within an organisation, guiding and advising employees. This can be on a one to one basis but also can occur in groups. A large number of careers consultants work on a freelance basis with individual fee-paying clients in a private setting.

Careers consultants should not be confused with recruitment consultants, who look for suitable candidates to fill their clients' vacancies.

Typical work activities

Careers consultant role is varied and tasks typically include:

• conducting one-to-one consultations with clients, either face-to-face or via telephone or email, providing in-depth initial consultations lasting about an hour and involving some form of work history analysis;
• following up clients, if necessary, through meetings, email and/or phone discussions;
• looking in detail at past skills and working experience to help clients assess their strengths, weaknesses, career motivation and goals through exercises and skills analysis;
• advising on career change or development by enabling clients to explore options for learning and work, and create action plans to take steps to implement decisions;
• supporting teams and individuals through periods of organisational change;
• administering and interpreting psychometric tests of aptitude, personality, interests, learning and working styles, motivation and team dynamics, and providing detailed feedback;
• making recommendations and discussing options based on psychometric test results and other information supplied by clients to assist them in making informed decisions suitable to their personal circumstances;
• providing information and advice on job search techniques, including looking for vacancies, making applications, assessing and creating CVs and going for interviews;
• providing mock interviews and advice to improve clients' interview technique;
• assisting clients to formulate a self-marketing plan;
• planning and delivering group workshops covering career management skills and creative job searching, including organising external speakers;
• carrying out desk research, using the internet to respond to client queries and writing career-related articles for professional bodies and organisations;
• reviewing, updating, developing and disseminating careers information resources, both printed and electronic;
  coaching and motivating clients to make career decisions, encouraging and congratulating them on any improvements made and setting new targets;
• discussing client negotiation strategies for salaries and benefits;
• offering counselling on issues affecting work and career, including stress management, difficulties in balancing work and home life commitments, redundancy and retirement;
• managing budgets and projects (depending on nature of role and organisation);
• marketing of services (particularly for small businesses) and business administration;
• keeping up to date with job market activity and developments in the sector;
• engaging in own continuous professional development;
• building and maintaining relationships with external agencies or professionals on referral of clients.